Energy drinks are often used as mixers with alcohol however recently there has been some concern about the safety of these concoctions. This combination carries a number of potential dangers that drinkers should be aware of beforehand as documented by a number of researchers and scientists.

Energy drinks are stimulants and alcohol is a depressant. The effects of the stimulant/ energy drinkhides how intoxicated the person really is which prevents them from realising just how much alcohol they have consumed. Fatigue is also masked and this is one of the ways that people often tell that they have had too much to drink.

The energy drink’s stimulating effect can give the person the impression that they aren’t impaired however it should be remembered that regardless of how alert you feel, your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is the same as it would be without the energy drink.

This presents a problem when people misconceive their ability to perform complex tasks like driving. Once the stimulant effect wears off, the depressant effects of the alcohol will remain and could cause vomiting or respiratory depression which can be fatal.

Energy drinks and alcohol both have dehydrating effects which can hinder your body’s ability to metabolize alcohol and therefore increase it’s toxicity and effects of the hangover the next morning.